New judge appointed at Grimsby Crown Court who's a 'circuit legend'

A new judge has been appointed to preside at Grimsby Crown Court.

His Honour Gurdial Singh received a heartfelt welcome from his fellow Judge Richard Woolfall at court where barristers and staff gathered for his first day.

The King appointed Gurdial Singh to be a Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Shabana Mahmood MP, and the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.

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The Lady Chief Justice has deployed him to the North Eastern Circuit, based at Great Grimsby Combined Court Centre. The new judge trained alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when they both studied law at The University of Leeds.

He was elevated to the role of judge after 12 years as a Recorder. He worked for Bank House Chambers in Sheffield.

A spokesman said: "Gurdial has contributed enormously to life in Chambers over many years working tirelessly serving both as Head of Chambers and as Pupil Supervisor. He will be greatly missed.

"We offer Gurdial our warmest congratulations and wish him well in his judicial career." Members of the Judge's proud family were able to listen in to the warm welcome from staff at the Grimsby court through a cloud video platform.

Also on the platform was His Honour Mark McKone KC, who described the new judge as "a circuit legend." He recalled his passion for cricket and long hours spent playing the sport when both trained later in London.

He said he presided "with skill and real compassion and understood people." "I wish you a very happy and successful career as a judge. I am very proud of you," he added.

Judge Woolfall extended a warm welcome to the new judge and wished him a "happy stay" at Grimsby over the next 20 years.

He joked: "After today you will only have another 7,329 to go. Judge Singh thanked the staff at Grimsby Combined Court Centre for their welcome and said he was "genuinely touched" by the warmth of the welcome.

Having presided as a Recorder in Grimsby over the past ten years he said the town was "a well kept secret with a wonderful court and delightful staff." "I could not be happier sat here. You have always made me feel incredibly welcome," he said.

He said he enjoyed a brisk walk on the beach at Cleethorpes each morning to set himself up for the day.

He added: "It has always been my ambition to be a judge. I am doing it in a place I want to be and in front of people I want to be with. I intend to be a friend to The Bar, as they have been to me."

He vowed to see justice done in all cases and added how deeply humbled he felt to be given the privilege to serve in Grimsby.